Contest ‘Think up a new dwarf’ – the winner!

01.06.2011

Ms Jolanta endeared her to us with a charming story about a dwarf named But-yet. There are no stunning drawings or sophisticated poems, only a heart-warming story about a little fellow who lives inside the Market Square clock in Wrocław. The story shows that both heart and spirit were put into creating the new dwarf and this is what’s most important for the little ones. Hence, the beautiful album ‘Smaller perspective of Wrocław – a guide through dwarf world’ goes to Ms Jolanta.

Sincere congratulations!

Jolanta Michalak

‘But-yet dwarf’

But-yet is not an ordinary dwarf. Plaited beard itself shows that he’s different. He has large dark eyes, always wide open as if not to miss anything. Between them a wide though small nose rises over his round face. Beneath the nose there is a smile, both shy and warm, upon the fleshy lips.

But-yet wears a red hat as he promised his grandpa, though to prove his independence he refuses to wear a stiff well-cut vest and chooses a loose green robe. When summer comes he sometimes pins a forget-me-not to it. Perhaps that’s why he remembers everything? But he pays little attention to details, maybe besides time. You could hear him say that there is a good time for everything and one should not miss it. Therefore he moved into the city clock.It’s a great vantage point. Moreover, at nights But-yet fancies to ride the clock’s hand. Humans don’t see him then and other dwarves don’t laugh about his stunts. Every now and then while making a turn around the clock’s hand he hangs heads down and from under the robe you can see his blue knickers with imprinted bears. During the day But-yet is an almost serious dwarf and takes full responsibility for watching the clock. He likes this retreat of his, from which one can muse on life while observing crowds strolling through the Market Square.

Mainly he muses on the life of humans, because when it comes to the length of a dwarf’s life, many issues tend to lose their importance. After all a dwarf can always make for the lost time in another century. Humans however lack such possibility. Due to that But-yet often comes down the clock tower at night and whispers to the ears of Strays. And when their thoughts scream an insistent ‘NO!’ he silently adds his stubborn ‘BUT’.

Yes indeed, But-yet likes to see the other side. Especially the positive one. Obviously, all those he whispered to considered these whispers as their inner voice. But-yet likes to remain unseen, he would be anxious about revealing himself. As a matter of fact, even other dwarves are sometimes tiresome, let alone constantly hurrying humans. But-yet is hardly surprised by this rush, it is probably difficult to stay calm when one haves such little time for himself. Unfortunately it is also easy to miss things this way. And though But-yet watches the clock, on which hundreds of eyes glance hurriedly each day, he is aware that when night comes he will run onto the Market Square barefoot to remind some of the humans what is really important. They often forget and But-yet responds to all their excuses with his tenacious ‘YET’.

Later, when back to his clock, he sits breathless on the clock’s hand, calmly peers on the moon and wonders what destiny holds for him. At last, freezing, puts the thought away for tomorrow and returns inside the clock to lie down between parts of the clock mechanism and sleep listening to the rhythm of ticking: not yet, not yet, not yet…